Two Oceans Aquarium

Three thousand reasons to visit the Two Oceans Aquarium

With more than 3000 marine creatures on view – including sharks, turtles and penguins – the Two Oceans Aquarium is one of the finest aquariums in the world.

Situated in Portswood Square at the V&A Waterfront, the aquarium showcases the unique marine life of the Atlantic and Indian oceans which lie on either side of the Cape of Good Hope.

Exciting and educational

The inviting and often interactive displays offer an educational and entertaining experience that will appeal to young and old alike. The galleries presenting South Africa’s rich aquatic life include:

Oceans of Contrast – Atlantic Ocean Gallery: Allows visitors a peek into the life of the cold Atlantic Ocean. Come face to face with translucent jellyfish, see a tiny, rare Knysna seahorse for the first time and introduce yourself to the giant spider crabs that call the Two Oceans Aquarium home.

Pop star Rihanna with one of the giant spider crabs at the aqarium during her visit to Cape Town on her Diamonds World Tour in 2013, image via Rihanna on Instagram

Oceans of Contrast – Indian Ocean Gallery: Showcases six exhibits of marine life from the warm Indian Ocean. Look out for the orange-and-white-striped Nemo (the anemonefish) and his buddies and a wealth of other brightly coloured fish found in the Indian Ocean’s coral reefs.

I&J Predator Exhibit: Here you can eyeball ragged-tooth sharks and stingrays. If you have an Open 1 diving qualification you can dive in the predators’ tank. Not for the faint-hearted! Visitors can come along and watch the shark-feeding on Sunday afternoons.

Sappi River Meander: This exciting exhibit traces the journey of a typical Western Cape river from its mouth at the ocean to its origins as a stream high up in the mountains. Here, visitors can also view the colony of penguins up close, as they hang out in their natural habitat.

Kelp Forest Exhibit: One of the aquarium’s biggest drawcards, the enchanting underwater forest is home to shoals of silver fishes shimmering through the sunlight.

Afrisam Children’s Centre: Fun activities are on offer for kids between the ages of four and ten – there are puppet shows, face painting and supervised arts and crafts activities.

Tickets

Online ticket prices:
Adults R112.00
Under 4 years Free
Children ( 4 - 13 years ) R55.00
Children ( 14 - 17 years ) R87.00
Pensioners R87.00 *
Undergraduate Students R87.00 *
*Only valid with South African pensioner or student card.
Your ticket is valid for the entire day. Have your hand stamped at the entrance turnstile in the foyer if you would like to visit again on the same day.

Ticket prices at the door:
Adults R125.00
Under 4 years Free
Children ( 4 - 13 years ) R60.00
Children ( 14 - 17 years ) R97.00
Pensioners R97.00 *
Undergraduate Students R97.00 *
*Only valid with South African pensioner or student card.
Your ticket is valid for the entire day. Have your hand stamped at the entrance turnstile in the foyer if you would like to visit again on the same day.

29km from Oudtshoorn, at the head of the picturesque Cango Valley, lies the spectacular underground wonder of the Klein Karoo - the Cango Caves. Situated in a limestone ridge parallel to the well-known Swartberg Mountains, you will find the finest dripstone caverns, with their vast halls and towering formations.

Just a little further on from Cape Town’s well-known Muizenberg beach is St James. Home to a cluster of well-known and oft-photographed bathing boxes on the beach, St James is a picturesque area that offers beachgoers respite from the westerly wind.